CDS helicopter crashed; 14 people on board
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
A helicopter carrying India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, crashed near Ooty in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Details of the injured and of any possible casualties are awaited.
The crash took place in the Nilgiris, shortly after the Mi-series chopper took off from the army base in Sulur. Confirming the incident, the Indian Air Force tweeted: “An IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter, with CDS Gen Bipin Rawat on board, met with an accident today near Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
Sources said that at least three injured people from the crash have been taken to a nearby hospital, but their identities are not confirmed yet. There were around 14 people on board along with CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife, his staff- Brig LS Lidder, Lt Col Harjinder Singh, NK Gursewak Singh, NK Jitendra Kr, L/Naik Vivek Kumar, L/Naik B Sai Teja and Hav Satpal
Four people have been confirmed dead in the incident. The three who have been rescued suffered serious injuries and have been taken to the hospital at Wellington cantonment in Nilgiris district. Gp Capt Varun Singh SC, Directing Staff at DSSC with injuries is currently under treatment at Military Hospital, wellington. Identities of the bodies to be confirmed through DNA testing.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said on social media “I am deeply shocked & disheartened on hearing the army chopper with CDS General Bipin Rawat and 13 others has met with an accident near Coonoor. I’ve instructed the local administration to provide all the help needed in rescue operations even as I’m rushing to the spot.”
December 8,2021
 Bipin Rawat, crashed near Ooty in Tamil){kind=link}